EFCL/Area Council MOU - Your input wanted!

District B Report, June 8, 2011

Download the June EFCL Board Package (or go to http://efcldistrictb.blogspot.com/ and use the link in the blog)

After the Area Council 17 meeting yesterday a few of us who went for refreshments after the meeting were met by Eric Johnson, the Past President of Kilkenny Community League. The energetic and inspiring former president has suffered some health issues and is recovering very well, if his spirits are any indication. I wish him a speedy recovery and thank him for all the great work he has carried out for his community over the years.

EFCL/Area Council MOU – last year a number of Area Council Representatives and EFCL folks got together and discussed developing a short agreement to help define and explain the roles of Area Councils and the EFCL (see attached document). The EFCL asked City Council to fund a positon to help coordinate and support both Area Councils and EFCL districts. The thinking was If these two organizations of community leagues communicated and worked well together, we could all get much more done more effectively and more efficiently. The City chose not to  fund the position. This means we are still left with the draft Memoradum of Agreement, which unto itself is still a good idea. The EFCL is considering how to move this along, as are some of the Area Councils, so this is an opportune time for District B Community Leagues to weigh in.

You guys are the bosses of both Area Councils and the EFCL. Does this proposed agreement sound like a good idea? Do you have any feedback on the MOU? I am asking as your EFCL District Representative. Please tell me how the two organizations can work together to BETTER help you with the business of running community leagues. Please send your feedback on the MOU to me, David Dodge email: president(at)efcl.org

Decision Items from the June 9, 2011 Board Package

Note, the minutes are no longer part of the board package because we should really distribute minutes before they are approved. You can get those from the EFCL website once they are approved.

EFCL Board Package June 2011 - District B Report

Hi District B Folks,

This must be the busiest month of the year for community folks!

Download the June EFCL Board Package

Decision Items

5.1 Board Retreat – the EFCL board is going to discuss the Area Council MOU at it's upcoming retreat so if you have any input on this please let us know in advance of that. The board will also discuss some new ideas of energizing leagues and update the EFCL business plan.

The EFCL hired seven cultural outreach workers to help connect a diversity of people with community leagues and we are working on a fascinating project with the Arts Council and the Heritage Council to support arts projects in community leagues. More on this soon.

5.3 (pg 8) - Transit Oriented Development – a series of recommendations are coming to the board on issues including managing density, family friendliness of the housing developed, access to transit and neighbourhoods, and much more. See pages 8-11 and send in your comments.

5.4 (pg. 12) RA8 Medium Rise Apartment Zone Changes – the EFCL Planning Committee suggests supporting increases in Floor Area Ratios if family-oriented units are built, that site coverage be limited to 45%, that transitions to smaller scale sites be increased and the the length of RA8 buildings be limited. See pages 12-13).

7.3 (pg. 16) Representatives from 21 community leagues attended the Community Sustainability Task Force meeting and discussed concerns about schools, changing demographics, housing, public safety and planning.

7.4.1 (pg. 17) Capital Ex Parade – the EFCL is entering the parade this year in order to promote community leagues in Edmonton. We would like to represent the many things that leagues. The  parade  is  on  July  21st  from  10:00AM  -­  12:30PM.  If  you  or  anyone  you  know  can  attend  and  participate,  please  email  ryan.troock@efcl.org.  It  is  essential  for  us  to  attract  a  significant  number   of  participants  (100  plus)  for  this  to  work.  

7.4.4 (pg. 18) Community League Day – September 17 – REGISTER YOUR event, there is going to be a 12-page features in the Edmonton Examiner and you will would to make sure your league's event is featured! Let Valerie know about your event: communications@efcl.org

7.5 (pg. 19)  Executive Director's Report – a number of goodies here:

• The Tripartite Agreement was approved by the EFCL Membership 65-2 and goes to the Community Services Committee on Monday June 13
• At a Neighbourhoods USA conference Allan learned about something called "Neighbourhood Redevelopment Agencies" that essentially purchases, restores and sells problem properties that are affecting the vitality of older neighbourhoods. Read more on page 19.
• Arts and Heritage Project - At  a  meeting  last  month,  the  Arts  Council  agreed  to  allocated  $50,000  toward  this  initiative,  while  the  Heritage  Council  tossed  in  $30,000.    This  will  let  community  leagues  triple  their  money  on  projects   that  celebrate  the  unique  character  on  their  neighborhood. (Also see 10.1 pg. 33)

District News

District J has a new representative! Veronica Vinge, the VP of Gold Bar Community League was elected as the new District J EFCL Board Rep.

Those are the highlights. There is much more in the board package!
If you have any questions about the EFCL, or if you have input please email your thoughts to me anytime: president(at)efcl.org

Have a great summer,
David Dodge

Area Council MOU

District B: Area Council 17 and Area Council 2:

Thanks to the more than 65 community leagues that attended the Tripartite Meeting at Rosslyn a few weeks ago. As you probably heard the new licence agreement was passed by 63 of 65 leagues at the meeting. I hope to get more information about operating grants and the new infrastructure program at the EFCL Board Meeting next week.

1) Your EFCL District B Representative:

Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated! I am still your EFCL District B Representative. I was elected last year and my position is up for election in April 2012. The EFCL Board consists of 12 Elected District representatives. At the first meeting following the April AGM each year the executive committee is elected from among the 12 elected representatives. This year I was elected President, Christine Bremner was elected VP Internal, David Gibbens was elected VP External and Al Innes was elected Treasurer. You must be a District Representative to be on the board.

Each District also has an elected representative of the EFCL Planning Committee. Our representative is Ron Favell of Killarney Community League. His phone number is: (780) 456-4706. His email is: cherylmcnalley (at) hotmail.com

If you have planning issue concerns about City-wide issues please contact Ron. 

2) EFCL/Area Council MOU for your consideration:

Last year Area Council representatives met with the EFCL to hammer out a Memorandum of Understanding between the councils and the EFCL. This agreement was developed by a fairly strong contingent of Area Council representatives. Even though the position was not funded it is a very good idea for us to look at this an push it along if we think it's important.

The EFCL asked for funding from the City to hire a coordinator to help coordinate meetings, assist with key activities, help with communication and assist with volunteer recognition among EFCL Districts and Area Councils. The benefits of coordination could make us more efficient and much more effective. 

The City did not fund this position, but did fund the new capital grants program and the City increased operating grants at the time as well.

The draft MOU was emailed to Area 17 and Area 2 leagues. We should review the MOU at Area Council meetings and discuss ways of funding the position if we think it's still important.